Photos of WW2 Damage
I'm doing this because, like most people, I am opposed to war and violence. I think we sometimes see the damage to buildings in conflicts like Gaza or Iraq but often it doesn't really strike home what all of this means. It's only when things are on our own doorstep that we fully understand the awfulness of war.
In the USA I'm sure that the dreadful 9/11 emphasised this to the people of New York and all of America. Perhaps the following photos might do the same for us British people, especially Londoners.
Okay, these WW2 pictures are obviously very old but when you see London landmarks, like St. Paul's Cathedral, surrounded by bomb sites it must surely make us feel that such scenes must never happen again. More importantly it's a reminder of all of the innocent lives lost.
The photo shows Uncle Wilf as a young man, he's the one on the right.
WW2 Photo St.Paul's Cathedral from Distaff Lane, London
The photo shows how there was World War 2 damage all around St.Paul's Cathederal, London but somehow this wonderful building stayed in tact. The view is from Distaff Lane, London.
You can see Distaff Lane in relation to St.Pauls Cathederal today on Google Satellite Map here.
Lest we Forget
World War 1 Picture
This drawing was amongst Uncle Wilf's old papers. I'm not sure who drew the soldier but it is remembering the 1914-18 World War 1.
'Lest We Forget' is the caption at the bottom but I guess we didn't learn our lessons properly from the First World War.
The phrase Lest We Forget was often used following World War 1 and is from a poem by Rudyard Kipling called Recessional.
G.P.O. from Newgate Street, London
Presumed Killed In Action
I find the following letter to be one of the saddest amongst Uncle Wilf's papers. It is addressed to his sister Ella from the War Organisation in 1943. It informs her that her fianace is 'now presumed to have been killed in action.'
Leslie Moat was the love of Ella's life and she remained single for the rest of her life.
I don't think that it's necessary to say anything else.
Click on the letter for a larger, more readable size.
WW2 Photo St. Andrews from High Holborn, London
This shows again World War 2 damage of St.Andrews from High Holborn, London.
It Wasn't Just London That Got Damaged In WW2
Though most of the photos on this page are of London during WW2 there was, of course, damage throughout Europe and other countries including Germany.My wife was born in Germany and one of her close relatives, a farmer, was killed towards the end of the war. He was drafted into the army, along with many others, as a last thrust by Hitler and was sent straight to the front line where he died within days.
My best friend in England also had a close relative who was killed in the same war, again a gentle man from the countryside.
These two were, therefore, enemies. But if there hadn't have been a war they would have got on well and had lots in common to discuss. There is no way they would have ever have hated each other.
Makes you think.
Monkwell Street and Cripplegate Church, London
WW2 Identity Cards
During World War 2 all British residents were issued with Identity Cards which could be checked on demand,The Home Guard or Local Defence Volunteers would set up road blocks, especially when German airmen had been shot down, and would check peoples' Identity Cards.
The Home Guard were laughed at in the television classic series Dad's Army
but they did lots of important duties including the guarding of buildings which had been bombed to prevent looting.Their weapons were in short supply and they often made their own out of old pipes or knives.
The general public were asked to donate any shotguns or other weapons for the Home Guard to use.
If only Mr. Hitler had known!
New Basinghall Street, London
WW2 Deferment From Military Service
Click image for larger size. 
St. Paul's from Paternoster Row, London
Daily Sketch VE Day Issue
Click on photo above for larger image. 
Behind High Holborn, London
WW2 Rationing For Clothes and Food
London Wall, London
WW2 Ration Book For Food
Ludgate Hill, London
War Savings Campaign
To help support World War 2 the War Office in Britain set up a War Savings Campaign. Local collections were made to help raise cash for planes, tanks and other items needed for the war. The advert above was a typical newspaper appeal for funds.
St. Nicholas Cole Abbey, Queen Victoria Street, London
World War 2 Victory Celebrations
8th June 1946
The programme has 20 pages and I thought it would probably be a bit too much to copy them all. I have therefore just copied the 'Marching Column' showing the route this took in London and some of the bands involved from different parts of the world.
The actual Victory Celebrations started with a March Past commencing at 9.18 a.m. This featured the 'Mechanised Column' and the 'Marching Column'.
The celebrations went on throughout the day with afternoon events and music in the Main London Parks including Hyde Park, Green Park, St.James Park and Regent's Park.
In the evening there was dancing, an apparance by the King and Queen, fireworks, searchlight displays and finally at 11.45 p.m.everything ended with 'the firing of 50 magnesium shells and the playing of the National Anthem.'
I guess it's hard to imagine how all of this must have felt after six years of war, bombing and destruction. The relief must have been immense. No more air raid sirens, no more rushing to air raid shelters at all hours of the day and night and no more blackout curtains at the windows. And, of course, most importantly no more loss of lives.
Let us pray that this never, ever happens again.
For UK residents Amazon UK have many books on World War 2 at this link
Winston Churchill Quote:
To jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war.
Winston Churchill
For More World War 2 Research
WW2 In The News
- Soldiers make Honor Flight to visit WW2 memorial, memories of war
- WASHINGTON (WCSC) - On Saturday, close to 100 World War II veterans from the Lowcountry flew to Washington, DC to see the WW2 memorial. Once at the wall, ...
- Countdown Is on for a Global Currency Crisis
- There is no denying that there are elements of a currency crisis now present in the US The US economy is running the biggest deficit since WW2 and has a ...
- Honor Flights help some WW2 veterans make peace with themselves
- by Steve Grant, KY3 News WASHINGTON, DC -- A planeload of World War 2 veterans will fly, at no cost to them, from Springfield to our nation's capital to see ...
- Sunstorm Releases WW2 Beachhead Game for iPhone and iPod Touch
- Indianapolis, Indiana ? (Inquisitr Wire) ? Sunstorm Interactive is excited to announce the launch of their second iPhone and iPod touch game, WW2 Beachhead. ...
World War II Books From Amazon
Any WW2 Stories Or Comments Welcome
Suzie-Shine wrote...
To think I was near St.Pauls at the weekend and then I see the photos on your lens. It really strikes home what WW2 must have been like. Hard to imagine. Five star lens.
Suzie
Posted June 30, 2009
Tobbie wrote...
Great photos, I have added your lens to my Glenn Miller lens to help spread the word...5Stars
Posted June 28, 2009
partybuzz wrote...
Thanks for sharing your pictures, etc. My father was in WWII and my Mom has some photos, also. Great idea for a lens!
Posted June 04, 2009
pippyj wrote...
Beautiful pictures, for those of you looking for more images
here is a link to WW2 medical photographs.
http://www.collectivepic.com/2009/04/ww2-medical-photos.html
and a link to images of military personal.
http://www.collectivepic.com/2009/04/some-interesting-photos-of-army-and.html
Posted May 25, 2009
CherylK wrote...
Those photos are such wonderful pieces of history and you've presented them beautifully.
My mother was in the WRNS. Her brother, Alfie, was a bombardier with the Royal Air Force. He was killed when his plane went down during WWII.
I'm favoriting this so I will be sure to get a notice if you update it.
Posted May 17, 2009
clouda9 wrote...
How fortunate for you that you got these pictures...thank you for sharing them here on Squidoo!
Posted May 16, 2009
World War 2 On Ebay
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
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